A TEENAGER drowned after being thrown into a lake by a gang and pelted with stones as he tried to climb out.

Shane Owoo, of Addison Place, Lunt Estate, Bilston, is thought to have had a row with three men who accused him of stealing a bike.

A friend claimed the 16-year-old had tried to pull himself from the water at Lunt Pool, near Bilston, on Saturday afternoon but couldn't as he was bombarded with bricks.

His body was recovered by police divers yesterday. A murder investigation has now been launched.

Police have arrested three men who are all in their early 20s and they were today being interviewed by officers.

Shane's friend, Kevin Smith, aged 17, claimed: "Apparently the lads he was seen arguing with accused him of stealing a bike which either belonged to one of them or someone they knew.

"The argument started near to his home and carried on up to the lake about 400 yards away.

He claimed: "One of these lads grabbed Shane and threw him into the water. He started to climb out, but to stop him from doing so they were throwing rocks, stones, anything they could find.

Mr Smith, who was not with Shane at the time of the attack, added: "I don't know if one of these missiles actually hit him, but he went under the water and wasn't seen again."

Shane's heartbroken father, James Owoo, said: "I'm absolutely devastated by this, I can't take it all in.

"He was a wonderful lad, the best son any father could ask for. This has left me in bits. How could anyone do that to such a young lad? It's horrific.

"He was only young and had his whole life in front of him.

"He was always respectful to people and had a cheeky charm about him. I'll miss him so much."

Emergency services were called to the pool, between Bickley Road and the A463 Black Country Route, after the alarm was raised at about 1pm on Saturday.

Two police officers searched the water and were later joined by specialist firefighters but after four hours the search was called off.

West Midlands Ambulance Service Incident Support Officer, Martin Eaton, said: "This was a very difficult job for everyone involved. We all hoped for the best but sadly it was not to be."

Mr Owoo is separated from the teenager's mother. She was too distraught to comment.

A friend, who asked not to be named, said: "Shane was a mysterious little devil at times and could be really cheeky. But he was so loveable with it.

"A number of times I'd come outside to tell him off about something minor and he would look at me with big eyes and smile and I'd just melt and tell him 'just to clear off'.

"This is devastating to the family and everyone who knew him."

Another teenager at the scene, who did not wish to be named, said the victim was a former pupil at Moseley Park Secondary School, in Holland Road, Bilston.

"We would sometimes hang around together with some other friends," he said.

"He left Moseley Park School last term and I think he had managed to get a job.

"He was a really nice lad and he would never say or do anything bad to anyone else. This is terrible and a real shame."

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A significant line of inquiry is that the deceased was involved in some sort of incident with a group of other youths or young men near Bickley Road on Saturday."